Exhibition in Beijing showcases dragons through time

A special exhibition featuring over 200 cultural relics related to the dragon opened to the public on February 6 at the National Museum of China, where nearly 90 percent of the artifacts are making their debut.

Taking the spotlight at the exhibition is the Neolithic Hongshan Culture jade dragon, renowned as the "First Dragon of China." The jade dragon has a deep green color and an overall curled shape resembling the letter "C." The snout extends forward with a tightly closed mouth, and protruding diamond-shaped eyes. The mane stands out prominently.

Unearthed in 1971 in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, this jade dragon is believed to be one of the earliest representations of a dragon discovered in China, providing invaluable material evidence for the study of the primitive form of dragons.

Also on display is an oracle bone from the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), with the character "龙" (dragon) depicted in pictographic form. In the Shang Dynasty, the character "龙" typically portrayed a dragon with a head at the top and a tail at the bottom, depicted vertically, with horn-like projections and teeth in the mouth. Although fragmented, experts speculate that this oracle bone inscription may be related to rituals for praying for rain.

The exhibition features a selection of over 200 cultural relics from the National Museum's collection, spanning a wide range of time periods and diverse forms. Visitors can admire precious artifacts ranging back from the Neolithic era to the early 20th century, including bronzeware, jade artifacts, ceramics, gold and silverware, lacquerware, and paintings.

The exhibition focuses on the beauty of the decorative patterns found on these artifacts, showcasing the auspicious meanings and cultural connotations of the dragon motifs. Zhuge Yingliang, a curator at the Chinese National Museum Research Institute, stated that throughout China's long history, the motif of the dragon has continuously evolved and assimilated into Chinse culture, from the initial abstract primitive forms to the figurative depictions resembling animals, and from simple to complex and spiritual combinations, reflecting the different styles of each period.